Hydraulic wedge assembly



y 1 E. M. FAusER 2,283,089

HYDRAULIC WEDGE ASSEMBLY Filed May 29, 1941 gig-9 4; i p INVENIOR.

AT TORNEY.

rat n of Wisconsin Application May 29, 1941, Serial No.- 395,769

(Cl. ass-104) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvemenis in devices for p adjacent surfaces or objects apart, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of fluid pressure actuated wed e assemblages or tools.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid pressure actuated wedge assembly which is extremely simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly flexible and eficient in use.

Many and varied conditions arise in the art of repairing damaged automobiles or the like.

7 and it frequently happens that several adjacent and normally parallel. sheet metal plates such as door panels, become indented and jammed against each other. When such a condition -arises, the space available forinsertion and manipulation of a suitable repair tool, is usually restricted and relatively inaccessible; and since considerable force is ordinarily required in order to pry the panels apart and to remove the dents,

it is necessary toprovlde a compact and power ful tool for this class of work. A spreading tool of this type should be adapted to be universally shifted and positioned in dark and cramped quarters, and should preferably be operable with the aid of fluid such as liquid under pressure sup lied from a remote source. Such a repair tool should also be limited in stroke or action so as not to undesirably damage the thin metal of the body or panels, and must also be quickly and conveniently removable when the Job is completed. In order to save time, the prying device must also be expeditiously operable and manip- AULIC WEDGE ASSEMBLY M. Mauser, Elm Grove, Wia, assignor to Mfg. 70., Milwaukee, Wis, a cor- A further specific object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable hydraulic wedge assembly having a powerful hydraulic motor conlined and concealed between sturdy pivotally connected spreader jaws the available movement of which is positively limited.

Still another specific object of the present inventlon is to provide a new and useful prying tool which can be manufactured and operated at moderate cost, and which is adapted for diverse USES.

An additional specific object of my present invention is to provide a simplified hydraulic system for effecting actuation of a spreader wedge, which can be readily controlled to spread and collame the wedge, and which can also be readily relieved of objectionable air entrapment. These and other specific objects and advantages of the present improvement, will be apparent from. the following description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of operating hydraulic v'edge nate the same or similar parts in the various,-

ulable, and should moreover be relatively inex provide an improved spreader tool and pump assemblage, wherein the tool unit is universally movably applicable to the work, and is operable by high pressure liquid supplied from a readily manipul bl p p unit disposed remote from the Working zone.

assemblies built inaccordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this speciilcation, wherein like reference characters desigviews. 1

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic pump and wedge assemblage, showing the improved wedge unit in collapsed condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved wedge unit in spread condition, showingthe relative size of the same with respect to the operator's hand;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional side elevation of th improved hydraulically operated prying unit, showing the same collapsed; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the rear portion of the base or lower jaw of the improved spreader u'nit.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as beingspecifically embodied in a relatively smallhydraulically operated wedge unit especially adapted to repair door and body panels of automobiles or the like, it. is not my desire or intent to thereby-unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement; and the improved pump for supplying liquid under pressure, which is shown and described herein, forms no part of the present invention, since any desired liquid pressure source may be substituted.

Referring to the drawing, th present improved fluid pressure actuated spreader or Wedge assem- 'the pivot pin i0.

blage shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and comprises in general a wedge element or base 8 having a pressure cylinder 1 formed integral therewith; a wedge element or spoon 8 pivotally attached to the base i at one end, and having an integral medial projection 9 disposed in alinement with the bore of the cylinder I; a sturdy pared to the hand ll of an operaton'as depicted him-2.

During normal operation of the improved hydraulic wedge assemblasathe wedge unit while collapsed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, may be inserted between the objects or surfaces which are to be spread, and after the by-pass valve 34 has the piston displacement chamber l3; and a pa r of tension springs ll connecting the wedge elements 8, 8 beyond the cylinder 1 and remote from The wedge base 6 has rearinclined abutments at its pivot end, while its opposite end is provided with a stop or contact area I6; and the pivoted end of the wedge spoon 8 has integral lugs H which are cooperable with the base abutments I! to limit the opening or spreading movement of the wedge elements, and is provided at its opposite end with a contact area It which is cooperable with the base area I to limit the closing movement of the wedge jaws. The wedge elements 6, 8 are moreover provided with integral reinforcing and enclosing opposite side walls as shown, which besides strengthening these jaw elements, also enclose and protect the cylinder 1 and springs M. The tension springs ll coact with transverse suspension pins 18, 20, and tend to constantly collapse the wedge assembly and to maintain the projection 9 in contact with the upper face of the plunger I I at all times.

. The piston sliding within the bore of the base cylinder I, and the upper face 2| of this plunger is flat, while the lower end thereof is provided with an integral central threaded stud 22 which pierces the cup packing l2 and coacts with a retainer and spreader nut 23 for holding the packing in place and against the cylinder bore. I The plunger displacement chamber is adapted to receive and to discharge liquid through a port 24 which communicates with an enlarged threaded socket 2! and with a lateral passage 26, all formed in the base 6; and the passage 26 is normally sealed by a ball 21 held in place by a-screw plug 28 as shown in Fig. 4. This ball 21 and plug 28 serve to effect removal of air from the hydraulic pasor plunger II is snugly fitted for a simple, compact, durable,

sages and displacement chamber l3, and the T latter normally communicates only with the source of liquid supply- The improved hydraulic wedge assembly may be supplied with liquid under pressure from any suitable source such as a pump 2!, preferably through a flexible conduit or hose 30 having one end connected to the threaded base socket 2' by means of a coupling 3|, and its opposite end connected' to the pump assemblage by means of a self-sealing swivel coupling 32 of the general type shown in Patent 2,218,318. The pump 29 may be of the manually operable type having a liquid supply reservoir 32 and a release or by-pass valve 34 for relieving the hydraulic pressure in the wedge displacement chamber It so that the springs Il may collapse the wedge assembly, after a spreading operation has been completed. The general assemblage of pump and wedge units, is shownin Fig. l, and it is to be noted that the wedge unit is universally movable independently of the pump unit, and is relatively small as comby providing the base and spoon been properly set to prevent escape of liquid froin the wedge unit to the reservoir 33, the pump 28 may be operated to. force liquid under pressure through the coupling 32, hose 30, coupling II, and port 24 into the displacement chamber ll. As this high. pressure liquid enters the chamber II, the plunger II will be moved outwardly and ,by virtue of its coaction with the spoon projection 9, the spoon element 8 will be swung away from the base element 8 about the pivot pin it, thereby stretching the springs see Fig. 2.: This spreading action will continue until stopped by external pressure on the swinging ,ends of the jaws, or until the lugs ll of the spoon engage the abutments I! of the base. If the relief valve 34 is subsequently adjusted to connect the hose to escape by merely removing the plug 28 and ball 21 momentarily. i

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that my present invention provides and readily manipulable wedge or spreader tool which is highly efilcient in action.- The'improved assemblage is obviously extremely sturdy in construction and elements 6, I, with flat and curved working surfaces, respecas shown in the drawing, the flat surface of the base may be caused to coact with a flat reaction surface while the curvedspoon surface will roll along the opposing dented surfaces and will tend 'to smoothly iron out the dents. The improved repair tool is especially applicable to normally approximately sheet metal panels, such as door or body panels which have become distorted or indented, and can be produced as a powerful unit adapted to be inserted and manipulated in relativelycramped and inaccessible quarters. The internal working parts of the improved assemblage are amply protected against possible damage by the improved construction of the base and spoon collapse. the tool when the hydraulic pressure is released. The improved tool can'obviously be used expeditiously in dark and obscure zones. may be manufactured and operated at moderate cost, is safely manipulable by a novice, and has proven highly satisfactory in actual commercial use.

It should be understood that it is 'not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use" of the tool, herein shown and described, for various parallel their adjacent thicker ends and having co-operable abutments for limiting the relative swinging movement thereof, one of said elements having a transverse cylindrical bore openingtoward the other and the other element having a projection extending toward the open end of said bore, a piston movable in said bore and having a smooth outer face slidably abutting said projection, a tension spring disposed approximately parallel to said bore and connecting the medial portions of said elements remote from the connecting pivot to urge said projection against said piston, and flexible conduit means for admitting liquid under pressure to said bore to move said piston outwardly while permitting universal movement of the wedge assembly.

2. A spreader wedge comprising, a pair of wedge shaped elements of approximately the same size and shape pivotally interconnected at their adjacent thicker ends and having co-operable abutments for limiting the relative swinging movement thereof, one of said elements having a transverse cylindrical bore opening toward the other and the other element having a projection extending toward the ,open end of said bore, a piston movable in said bore and having a smooth outer face slidably abutting said projection, a tension spring disposed approximately parallel to said bore and connecting the medial portions of said elements remote from the connecting pivot to urge said projection against said piston,

and flexible conduit means for admitting liquid under pressure to said bore to move said piston outwardly while permitting universal movement of the wedge assembly, the outer work engaging face of one of said elements being flat and the outer work engaging face of the other element being gradually convexly curved from its thinner to its thicker end.

' 3. A spreader wedge comprising, a pair of wedge shaped elements of approximately the piston outwardly while permitting universal shifting of the wedge assembly.

4. A spreader wedge comprising, a pair of wedge shaped elements of approximately the.

same size and shape having their adjacent thicker ends swingably interconnected by a transverse pivot pin and being provided with integral directly co-operable abutments for positively limiting the relative swinging movement thereof in either direction, one of said elements having a cylindrical bore therein disposed transversely of saidpin and opening toward the other and the other element having an integral curved projection extending toward the open endof said bore, a floating piston movable in said bore and having a plane outer face slidably abutting said projection, a tension spring disposed approximately parallel to said bore and connecting the medial portions of said elements remote from said pin to constantly urge said projection against. said piston, anda flexible conduit for admitting liquid under pressure to said bore to force said piston outwardly while permitting universal being pivotally interconnected remote from said ends, one of said elements havinga rigid transverse cylinder provided with a bore opening toward the other and the other element having a rigid projection extending toward the open end of said bore, a piston movable in said bore and having a smooth outer face slidably abutting said projection, a spring connecting the medial portions of said elements remote from said ends for constantly urging said projection toward said piston face, and a flexible conduit for admitting liquid under pressure to said bore to move said piston outwardly while permitting universal same size and shape having their adjacent thicker ends swingably interconnected by a transverse pivot pin and being provided with integral directly co-operable abutments for positively limiting the relative swinging movement thereof in either direction, one of said elements having a cylindrical bore therein disposed transversely of said pin and opening toward the other and the other element having an integral curved promovement of the tool.

, 6. A repair tool comprising, a pair of lever elements having co-operating work engaging ends formed for direct engagement with the work and being pivotally interconnected remote from said ends, one of said elements having a rigid cylinder provided with a bore extending transversely of the element and opening toward the other element and said other element having a rigid projection extending transversely thereof toward the open end of said bore, a piston movable in said bore and having a smooth outer face adapted to slidably abut said projection, a spring connecting the medial portions of said elements remote from said work engaging ends for constantly urging said ends toward each other, and a flexible conduit for admitting .liquid under pressure to said bore to move said piston outwardly toward said projection while permitting universal movement of the tool.

' EDWARD M. PFAUSER. 

